1.1 Scrutiny Boards meet in public to discuss and make recommendations on the development of policy and to hold the Leader and Cabinet to account for their actions.
1.2 Scrutiny Boards are responsible for:
(a) Reviewing and scrutinising decisions made or actions taken in connection with the discharge of any of the Council's functions;
(b) Making reports and/or recommendations to the full Council and/or the Cabinet and/or any Local Committee in relation to the functions of that body;
(c) Considering any matter affecting the area or residents;
(d) Exercising the right to call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made but not yet implemented by the Cabinet, a Local Committee or where an Executive Director has taken a key decision ; and
(e) Establishing ad hoc task and finish groups to undertake specific tasks.
1.3 Any reference to Scrutiny Boards includes the following:
(f) Scrutiny Management Board
(g) Scrutiny Advisory Boards for Children and Young People, Communities and Place, Adults
(h) Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee
(i) Cumbria and Lancashire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee
(j) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Scrutiny Board.
2.1 In order to undertake their policy development and review role, the functions of the Scrutiny Boards are to:
(a) Assist the Council and the Cabinet in the development of the budget and the policy framework by in-depth analysis of policy issues;
(b) Conduct research, community consultation and other consultation;
(c) Consider and implement mechanisms to encourage and enhance community participation in the development of policy;
(d) Question members of the Cabinet and/or Local and Other Committees and County Council officers about their views on issues and proposals affecting the area;
(e) Liaise with other external organisations operating in the area, whether national, regional or local, to ensure that the interests of local people are enhanced by collaborative working;
(f) Require representatives of relevant NHS bodies and relevant health service providers to attend the Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee to discuss policy issues relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in Cumbria.
2.2 In order to undertake their Scrutiny role, the functions of the Scrutiny Advisory Boards are to:
(a) Review and scrutinise the decisions, initiatives and projects and performance of the Cabinet and/or Local and Other Committees and County Council officers in relation to individual decisions, initiatives and projects through the call-in process or pre-scrutiny;
(b) Review and scrutinise the performance of the Council in relation to its policy objectives, performance targets and/or particular service areas;
(c) Question members of the Cabinet and/or Committees and County Council officers about their decisions and performance, whether generally in comparison with service plans and targets over a period of time, or in relation to particular decisions, initiatives or projects;
(d) Make recommendations to the Cabinet and/or appropriate Local and Other Committees and/or Council arising from the outcome of the scrutiny process;
(e) Review and scrutinise the performance of other public bodies and partners in the area and invite reports from them by requesting (and in the case of relevant NHS bodies and relevant health service providers requiring them) to address the Scrutiny Board about their activities and performance; and
(f) Question and gather evidence from any person with their consent.
4.2 The membership of individual Scrutiny Boards are set out in the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (paragraph 15).
